Food Fendi: Simon's Groot Constantia

When a good but distant friend calls you and invites you for dinner just before the two of you have to work is tempting because a part of you feels its time to catch up but the other part is I have work in a few hours. You gracefully ask for a rain check and arrange to meet up later. Guess not a lot of people was up for partying last night as we both cashed up earlier then usual, crazy how our plans always fall into place. Sherice decides to sleepover and always after a long night we tend to sleep later then usual, our plans were suppose to be breakfast but Sherice isn't to fond of eggs and most places have that on their breakfast menu so we change it to lets go for lunch, but been girls and a bit lazy we decide to move it to late lunch early supper, which worked out perfectly. Then came the deciding factor of where to eat we both wanted a change of scenery and started googling top restaurants in Cape Town. We glanced through a list and eventually found 

We made a reservation for 2 and started getting ready. A beautiful day in the Cape with sunshine only meant one thing a beautiful sunset. As we arrived at Simon's, we were greeted by our waitress Anele who was always very attentive and full of smiles, she made us feel comfortable. We ordered ourselves drinks (cola-tonic) and a hors D'oeuvres Hot (starter) to share which was delivered to our table in 5 minutes.  

Normande- Muscles with cream & garlic

Cooked to perfection and delicious. We decided on a seafood main course because the starter got our mouths watering. Sherice opted for the Fish and I chose the Calamari. We chatted while waiting for our main course to arrive and enjoyed the panoramic views and the great ambience of the resturant.

As we waited for our main meal to arrive our every need was attended too, be it a clean ashtray or just another wipe over the table where we were seated. Our main course took a bit longer but eventually it came and boy was it worth the wait. My mouth watering at the site of what was placed in front of me. My calamari was so tender and delicious with just enough flavor to make your mouth burst. As we enjoyed our meal and chatted the sun was setting and the evening was upon us. We both had made other plans for later that evening so we never opted for a dessert but i can only imagine that the dessert would be as great as the starter and main course.

Zarah- Calamari Grilled with Garlic Butter or Chili Garlic Butter

Sherice- Fish Battered, Sherice opted for the side salad instead of hot chips

My overall experience of this beautiful french inspired but locally grown herbs and ingredients that are sourced in the Constantia Valley was amazing, if i should rate this restaurant  it would definitely get an 8/10 for great customer service, quality food,  majestic venue and friendly and family orientated clientele. I'm pretty sure that Sherice would agree with me.

For more information on Simon's you can visit their website : http://www.simons.co.za

or call for a reservation on 0217941143 

Till next time...

Fayaaz Abrahams Sauls

On the 11th June 2008 Fayaaz Abrahams Sauls was born. 8 months later he was introduced to myself and my family. Fayaaz started spending weekends at our place and weekends turned into weeks and now 5 years later he is still staying with us permanently. 

Fayaaz age 2

It was hard for me to adapt and accept Fayaaz because i was afraid that i would be replaced by this stranger but eventually i had to come to the realisation that Fayaaz was not going anywhere not anytime soon at least.  Fayaaz and i became partners in crime to the point where i made it my sole mission to make sure Fayaaz was walking at 11 months and potty trained at 1 and half years. My love for Fayaaz grew stronger each day. He became my little brother(even though i wanted a sister, guess i just had to do with what got) that if anyone would do harm to him would have to answer to me. Fayaaz was like a little old man, he went to my Matric Valedictory and partied at Camps bay he even stayed out all night with us, one would say he experienced things beyond his years some would say that its cruel and that his a child and needs be a child but my thought having Fayaaz with me on most occasions probably saved my life. When i say saved my life i mean it, if he wasn't with me for my Matric valedictory i would've done things that one could only dream of (you know what Matric valedictories are like). Fayaaz in our life has changed me for the better and some would say that if it wasn't for him coming into our life i would never have become involved as a volunteer with New Kidz On the block www.newkidz.org.za i urge everyone to get involved with them. 

Fayaaz helping me bake

Many people would ask my family why would they take a little boy in?? some even assumed that my brother Zaid was his real dad but no we took him into our homes because he had this eyes that made you feel as if he was staring into your soul as if he was longing for our family to be his. we made this conscious decision in taking him as a family and not a day goes by that I regret ever letting him into my heart. he will always be my little brother even one day when his old enough to know that we are not really his family and that i am only but a stranger whose family took him into their hearts and home and made him their own. 

Fayaaz having swimming lessons

So when his birthday was nearing this year and we were all excited about someone turning 5 a milestone in every child's life we were uncertain if he would be with us for his birthday as every year since his being living with us his mother has always had him on his birthday making it hard for us to ever really plan a birthday party. However this year was different he was with us for his birthday and we could finally give him the party we planned for. 

his birthday invitation

I love how technology has evolved because now we can send invitations via email, facebook or even mms. it took some time to get use to the fact that Fayaaz was actually going to spend a birthday with us for the first time. Excitement was growing in the Abrahams household and Fayaaz's  birthday party was nearing, excitement was in the air nerves as this was the first children's party in the Abrahams house in 16 years, we were over our heads at times as too what will be the theme which because we believe children should have their own opinions in everything regarding them, we naturally asked him what he would like to have it started with Ben 10, and then it was Spider man and eventually we came to the conclusion that he would have a superhero party.

Party guests and birthday boy

After 2 weeks of planning and contemplating whether there will be a jumping castle or not, if it were to rain or shine. we eventually cancelled the jumping castle which to my admise the kids never even cared they had fun playing soccer with Fayaaz( who happens to play soccer  u7 soccer and who is a Liverpool supporter and watches documentries of Messi because he wants to one day play soccer with the great Lionel Messi).

Fayaaz in his Liverpool outfit

So i went of topic a bit sorry guess im just a proud big sister. Back to his birthday party they played soccer and dodgeball and had fun being kids, sometimes we forget that all these fancy things like playstations and jumping castles actually take away the children's will to think and make up their own games, we tend to take it for granted that these things are just there for entertainment. Im not going to say Fayaaz had a perfect party because what party for a child is but in my opinion i think he had a pretty good one. It might not have been a destination party (which i strongly advice if you want to avoid the hassel of baking,cooking and cleaning up afterwards) but it was perfect for him. 

Black Widow and Arrow Man with the birthday boy

Chloe the Super dog and myself Black Widow

the silver under my eyes was suppose to be a mask

I end of by saying thank you to Fayaaz mom for making the wise desicison to want a better life for Fayaaz and to let him be with us and thank you to everyone who shared his special day with him, and also if ever you having a children's birthday party rather have a destination party so that you too can enjoy the day your child becomes a year older instead of been in the kitchen baking and cooking and cleaning.

Till next time...

Why I decided to blog

About a week ago i realized that i wanted to start a blog that is different to the rest. Every second blog i see these days are either about fashion or beauty. Don't get me wrong i love the blogs and a few of them are very interesting but they all seem to have the same story line so i decided to start a blog that has nothing to do with fashion but more about the volunteer work that I've been doing and more about what i am studying and what my inspirations in life are. 

                   

Carol's day care centre 

Every blog will have a different story line, some will be about New Kidz the organisation i am now a activist for and a volunteer. New Kidz is an organization which specialize in mini make overs in order to create awareness about the +- 8 million orphans in South Africa. I will also be covering topics like Montessori Education, the course i am currently studying.  Montessori education is an educational approach developed by Italian physician and educator Maria montessori based on her extensive experience in special education. Montessori education is practiced in an estimated 7,000 schools worldwide, serving children from birth to eighteen years old. Montessori education is characterized by an emphasis on independence, freedom within limits and respect for a child’s natural psychological development. 

so why blog about the things close to my heart? so that one day when im gone i'll leave a legacy behind for hopefully inspiring someone else to do good and maybe help someone out there who like me also never knew what their true calling in life was but was inspired by what was written in my blog. Many blogs out there are about reviews on this event, or that event, about whats the latest fashion trend to follow and many are not truly writing for the joys of writing but for the free gifts that come along with it. I understand that some people want to be international writers and blogs help them by pursuing their dream, some people monopolise on the idea of having a blog,eg. she has a blog and she gets free things maybe i should start one as well so i can get free stuff. What ever happened to working hard for what you really want?! 

"Im not doing this for the free stuff or the popularity, Im doing this for me". 

When you see how people boast about the free things they got from this company and that company at this event where they got a press pass sometimes makes you think that a lot of the blogs written is no longer about viewing their opinions on or the actual reason they all claim to have started blogging. There's one blogger I will always admire and that's Zahrah Perry from the Perry Book Blog she is an inspiration to all up and coming bloggers and her words in her blogs never seem to amaze me.

My blog is for my children one day, and hopefully to open doors in the writing industry for myself, so that I can write stories be it fiction or non fiction but so that my stories will be admired and loved by others. My blog is also for when I'm old and grey I will be able to tell my grand children that was grannies writings. 

So if you reading my very first blog post, I sincerely hope that you follow my blog regularly and that you give me your input be it good or bad. 

Till next time...